The Best Part of Christmas: Baby Superman

Baby Superman

Complete with Cape

And trusty sidekick puppy.

The perfect superhero team.



Some of you know that Tim's dad, Bret, is aka Superman. Tim wrote his dad a letter sometime before his mission and told him, well, I shouldn't try to put it into words cause Tim said it in the perfect way. Bret is Tim's Superman, because of the man he is, because of the dad he is.

Bret talked about it at our wedding and reread the first time Tim dubbed him Superman. And how there never could have been a more rewarding thing to hear, nor to have to live up to. It is so meaningful, touching, and significant. And he's been Superman ever since that first time.

And so we've got this Superman thing going. Tim being Superman II, and now Trent the Third. So how appropriate that he received his Superman pajamas from Papa and Nana on Christmas Eve. NOTHING could have been cuter than Little Superman crawling among the debris of Christmas at both grandparents homes in his Superman outfit, complete with belt and cape.



Super Men

Forced Christmas Photo

Well we did the best we could. I really wanted a photo in front of our tree for the first Christmas. There were no neighbors home to help us out, so we had to set up the camera and use the timer and Trent had a fever of 102 so he wasn't feeling great. But I just had to have a photo, so we tried to force it. At least we documented reality, right?

As of Late

Don't know how he decided on that pose.

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i

As of late,

Doesn't he look so big and old? With his hair all swept to one side, Edward the Vampire style. I hate that he looks so big and grown up! He was just a squooshy baby earlier this year! And now, he's a big boy, on the path of destruction.

My boy is on the path of destruction. What a sweet little boy he is, but he is such a climber and tipper, and puller, and again climber. Yesterday I walked into his room just in time to see the six baskets stacked on top of one another, falling square on top of Trent and even me if they reached that far.

Exhibit A:

A favorite: The DVDs.

"How loud can I turn up the radio?"

And another favorite: Mom and dad's closet. I made one phone call, and this is what I return to.

He climbs everything, and yesterday I found him laying on an end table. Uhh...no.

Somehow "No" means "faster, harder, stronger, FASTER before mom gets here." Trent crawls like a gazelle. LEAPing with each step. As he reaches for the ornaments on the tree, and I say "No!", it's like that translates to "Quick! Do it quick! Before mom gets here to stop me!"

If there is one single speck of anything on our floor, Trent will find it. The lastest? Ornament hooks. SO GLAD those didn't go down the throat before I swobbed them out. It's probably because I didn't yell "No!"

Maybe it's best to stay calm and forget the word "no" for now.

If dad can just keep him up high in the air, there is nothing up there to destroy.





And have we told you about fish face? Cause I don't think we have. He loves to make a fish face! He probably holds the world record for holding it longer than any other person ever. He will make the face then proceed to play, or destroy, all the while with the fish face on display.

It's fun to joke about, but we truly love our little destroyer. He's a boy! And he knows that as a boy he has a mission to stay true to, and that's what he is all about. He is about his boy business.

Heaven on my Mind

Can you picture heaven?

Luckily, once I month I don't have to, cause we go there.

My parents live there. Winter, spring, summer, and fall.









Welcome to Huntsville. Welcome home.





A drive over the foothills of Weber Canyon, down the mountain where I can spot my house, see the lake, see the lights of three ski resorts at night in the winter, see the hay fields and horse pastures in the day, see Eden and Liberty where Tim can golf overlooking the valley. Fishing, horseback riding, biking to the Monastery, water skiing, a walk to the hometown park and home of the greatest Fourth of July.

The nicest people reside here, good ol' hometown people that either retired at 30 or are still out milking the cows. That know how to can jelly and bottle butter. Real people. Real good people.

Drive up the canyon again to Monte Cristo beauty, drive towards the lake and see the way the mountains depart over Pineview that just must be straight from the Celestial Kingdom. I love this place that makes every one feel like they're home.

And that is heaven.

Next, we had the most perfect afternoon Saturday in our wonderful town.

This must be what it is like to pick out a Christmas tree in heaven. We went to an old farmer's property, took a hay ride (or a sleigh ride if the snow has fallen) through the property, bells a ringin', horses hoofs clanging, down the hill and back to a shed made of quakies. There you will find the most perfect Christmas trees brought here from Oregon. (And my mom and dad really did find the most beautiful Christmas tree on earth.) Smells like Christmas, sounds like Christmas, feels like Christmas. We pass the elk in the field, a six point bull and ten cows (did you know I grew up on a farm of sorts? well yes), the beauty of the valley, and then drank hot chocolate in the farmer's shed while the men loaded the trees. Tim and I are the proud owners of our first real Christmas tree.















I'll be home for Christmas.

And next, heaven on my mind,



Because another gift from heaven will be joining our family on earth next year.

We heard the little miracle heartbeat last week, so it will be sometime around July 15.

It is difficult to comtemplate how we could possibly make our home a place a Spirit from Heaven will be happy to reside. But we will try. And I feel overwhelmed that another Spirit more perfect than I would be willing to accept me as his or her mother. But what a privilege.

I am very proud to be a mother, and proud that soon I will have two little young ducklings following my tail and under my wing. I am so happy that we have so many wonderful people to love our babies: Grandpa, Papa, Nana, and Nana Jo, aunts, uncles, cousins, great aunts, great uncles, and amazing friends.



I am thankful to know there is a heaven we came from, and a heaven where we hope to reside. And that God has given us the opportunity to try to make our homes a heaven on earth.

Two children from heaven and a great husband are a good start.